A Reader’s Rebuttal

Hi folks, time for an update on the one star review post I made a few days ago. As I said then, you can’t take them to heart. I received this letter in the e-mail just a few short days later. I have to say, I am blessed to have such articulate and devoted readers. Truly I am blessed.

This gentleman’s defense of my work should reassure any writer out there that a one star review is not the end of the world.

“Dear Ms MacLeod,

After reading your blog from a few days ago, the one containing my reveiw of it, I went to Amazon and read the one-star reviews on the book. I read the book again last night, and I’m putting the following up on Amazon.

I read the one-star reviews because I truly loved this book, and I wanted to see exactly what the complaints were. Now I’m more confused than ever.

“rainbow goddess” said “horrible writing and lack of punctuation”. What? Which book did she read? The copy I have has no lack of punctuation. I didn’t find a single instance of incorrect punctuation except for a single “close quote” which was missing. Does this lady actually know what correct punctuation is? And I loved the writing. The characters were realistic and the plot was riveting, and the setting was dramatic. Where is the “horrible” part?

Yes there was a power imballance between the women, most of her romances contain exactly that situation, one which she makes work quite well. What’s the problem with that? If a reader doesn’t like it, read a different author.

“they have no problems whatsoever”? Huh!?! Does “rainbow goddess” miss the part where Kassidy ALMOST DIES?

“The falling in love overnight part was disappointing”. Oh, my. This reviewer isn’t going to like any of Ms MacLeod’s books, is she? The premise in Prudence MacLeod romances is that letting go of the past and clearly stating your needs and speaking positively CAN and DOES call love to one and that this can and does happen immediately.

“doggy delight” said, “This author is confused over styles”. I don’t see it. I think “doggy delight” is confused over styles. And she clearly does not comprehend the concept of review. Give examples, state specifics, vague claims of confusion are not acceptable reviews.

Cristo Webb said, “overdone, stiff and lacked any substance”. I don’t know what book she read. I really don’t. I think that the plot of a hitherto-heterosexual woman making what some would think of as a devil’s bargain and agreeing to a homosexual relationship in return for food, shelter and clothing is pretty significant “substance”. And I further think it was WELL-WRITTEN.

“Bealer “bealer”” said, “excessive use of terms of endearment and stiff dialogue”. This slays me. Do readers today have no concept at all of formal English? Is there truly so much literature published in slang, jargon and vernacular that formal English is now considered “stiff”? And how hard is it to comprehend that two people who have given their word to deliberately give loving companionship would naturally and quickly gravitate to terms of endearment as part and parcel of “speaking positively”?

Now let’s read the review by “pmmysuz”.

She says, “I knew that the book probably wasn’t going to be great because of the price but it was worse than I thought. Starts out with a great premise then gets all sickening sweet and gooey. A good idea turns into nothing.”

I’m sorry, but all I can say in response to that is WTF?!? “Gets all sickening sweet and gooey” is what romance novels are SUPPOSED to do. And that is the only comment she makes at all. That is her only premise for a one-star review, the book performs as advertised. Well, exc-u-u-u-se me!

My review: I love the book and I strongly recommend it to anyone.”

Now for the ROW80 goals

1. Finish the first draft of my current project and get it off to my editor. CM Crawford is a great editor and has very reasonable rates. Heck, she’ll even work for Amazon gift cards. The girl loves to barter. You can find her page here:

3. If Ms. Crawford gets the first project back to me in time, finish the second draft during this round. If not then I will finish and hopefully publish it during the last round.

So, one thing you can do to help is to go to my Amazon author page and hit the *like* button on the upper right side. Here’s the link. http://www.amazon.com/Prudence-MacLeod/e/B0079XOY8U If you have an author page drop your link into a comment and I’ll go *like* it for you. Thanks for stopping by, good luck!

Wowsie Wow! What a fabulous fellow to compose such a spot-on rebuttal!

I think the real issue I have with stinker reviews, is when they are dishonest, delusional, or all out inflammatory, to the point one has to seriously wonder if the alleged reader even cracked the cover of the book they are so intent on slicing and dicing.

Oh yeah, me too. Sometime you can see where the person has created the identity for the sole purpose of giving you the one star review. Seems like such a waste of energy for something that has no effect at all.

Nope, you can't please all the people all the time. I have actually had several such letters, but really liked this one. This fine gentleman always sends me a note after reading each book. I can only assume he does so for all authors. How about that; a man with social skills. There's hope yet. tee hee

It is so exciting to get e-mails and reviews like this. (i am reading my very large back list and this one warmed my heart). When I get one I get all excited and gush to my hubby that a "fan" wrote me. I have fans. How cool is that?

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